Holtzman, Nicholas S., Allison M. Tackman, Albrecht Kuefner, Fenne große Deters, Mitja Back, Brent Donnellan, James W. Pennebaker, et al. 2018. “LIWC Markers of Narcissism: An Exploratory LIWC Analysis of 15 Samples.” PsyArXiv. August 8. doi:10.31234/osf.io/yvna6
Abstract: Narcissism is virtually unrelated to using first-person singular pronouns (Carey et al., [2015] Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 109). The degree to which narcissism is linked to other aspects of language use, however, remains unclear. We conducted a multi-site, multi-measure, and dual-language project to identify potential linguistic markers of narcissism. We applied the Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count (LIWC) program to a large number of written and spoken texts across 15 samples (total N = 4,941). The strongest positive correlates of narcissism were: using words related to sports, second-person pronouns, and swear words. The strongest negative correlates of narcissism were: using anxiety/fear words, tentative words, and words related to sensory/perceptual processes. All effects were small (each |r| less than .10).
Wednesday, August 8, 2018
Participants lie significantly more in the random-draw task than in the real-effort task, leading to the conclusion lying about luck is intrinsically less costly than lying about performance
Lying about luck versus lying about performance. Agne Kajackaite. Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Volume 153, September 2018, Pages 194-199. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jebo.2018.07.010
Highlights
• I compare lying behavior in a real-effort task and a random-draw task.
• Participants lie more in the random-draw task than in the real-effort task.
• Lying about luck is intrinsically less costly than lying about performance.
• More generally, the way outcomes are determined affects the decision to lie.
Abstract: I compare lying behavior in a real-effort task in which participants have control over outcomes and a task in which outcomes are determined by pure luck. Participants lie significantly more in the random-draw task than in the real-effort task, leading to the conclusion lying about luck is intrinsically less costly than lying about performance.
Highlights
• I compare lying behavior in a real-effort task and a random-draw task.
• Participants lie more in the random-draw task than in the real-effort task.
• Lying about luck is intrinsically less costly than lying about performance.
• More generally, the way outcomes are determined affects the decision to lie.
Abstract: I compare lying behavior in a real-effort task in which participants have control over outcomes and a task in which outcomes are determined by pure luck. Participants lie significantly more in the random-draw task than in the real-effort task, leading to the conclusion lying about luck is intrinsically less costly than lying about performance.
We study whether face-to-face group deliberation changes other-regarding preferences; social interactions do indeed change individuals’ preferences; specifically, individuals whose preferences are extremely egoistic and also unchanging tend to influence others the most
Social interactions and the influence of “extremists”. Crawford Donna Harris. Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Volume 153, September 2018, Pages 238-266.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jebo.2018.07.007
Highlights
• We study whether face-to-face group deliberation changes other-regarding preferences, particularly when individuals have to make their decisions alone afterwards.
• We use a structural choice-revealed preference approach to measure each individual’s other-regarding preferences in a modified dictator game.
• We examine heterogeneity in preferences and changes in these preferences before and after group deliberation.
• We find that social interactions do indeed change individual preferences, even after they have left the group. In particularly, preferences of individuals in the same group become more homogenous after interactions.
• We also find that students are more susceptible to social influence of individuals with extremely selfish preference (the “extremists” in our title) compared to non-students.
Abstract: A large literature has shown evidence that people are influenced by others, especially in group interactions. However, little is known about whether such influence remains after they have left the group. Using a modified dictator game and a structural choice-revealed preference approach, we measure an individual’s preferences before and after face-to-face interactions in a small group and then examine whether a change in preferences is observed after subjects have left the group and have to make their decisions alone. We find that social interactions do indeed change individuals’ preferences. Specifically, individuals whose preferences are extremely egoistic and also unchanging tend to influence others the most. These “left extremists” are more likely to be male and these effects are more prevalent amongst student subjects than non-student.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jebo.2018.07.007
Highlights
• We study whether face-to-face group deliberation changes other-regarding preferences, particularly when individuals have to make their decisions alone afterwards.
• We use a structural choice-revealed preference approach to measure each individual’s other-regarding preferences in a modified dictator game.
• We examine heterogeneity in preferences and changes in these preferences before and after group deliberation.
• We find that social interactions do indeed change individual preferences, even after they have left the group. In particularly, preferences of individuals in the same group become more homogenous after interactions.
• We also find that students are more susceptible to social influence of individuals with extremely selfish preference (the “extremists” in our title) compared to non-students.
Abstract: A large literature has shown evidence that people are influenced by others, especially in group interactions. However, little is known about whether such influence remains after they have left the group. Using a modified dictator game and a structural choice-revealed preference approach, we measure an individual’s preferences before and after face-to-face interactions in a small group and then examine whether a change in preferences is observed after subjects have left the group and have to make their decisions alone. We find that social interactions do indeed change individuals’ preferences. Specifically, individuals whose preferences are extremely egoistic and also unchanging tend to influence others the most. These “left extremists” are more likely to be male and these effects are more prevalent amongst student subjects than non-student.
Intersectional Escape: Older Women Elude Agentic Prescriptions More Than Older Men
Intersectional Escape: Older Women Elude Agentic Prescriptions More Than Older Men. Ashley E. Martin, Michael S. North, Katherine W. Phillips. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, https://doi.org/10.1177/0146167218784895
Abstract: Both older individuals and women are proscribed from engaging in power-related behaviors, with women proscribed from behaving agentically and older individuals expected to cede desirable resources through “Succession.” However, little is known about whether these overlapping agency prescriptions equally target men and women across the lifespan. In seven studies, we find that older men face the strongest prescriptions to behave less agentically and cede resources, whereas older women are comparatively spared. We show that agency prescriptions more strongly target older men, compared to older women (Studies 1a, 1b, 2) and their younger counterparts (Studies 3 and 4) and examine social and economic consequences for agentic behavior in political, economic, and academic domains. We also find that older men garner more extreme (i.e., polarized) reactions due to their greater perceived resource threat (Studies 4-6). We conclude by discussing theoretical implications for diversity research and practical considerations for accommodating the fast-aging population.
Keywords: gender, age, ageism, intersectionality, backlash
Abstract: Both older individuals and women are proscribed from engaging in power-related behaviors, with women proscribed from behaving agentically and older individuals expected to cede desirable resources through “Succession.” However, little is known about whether these overlapping agency prescriptions equally target men and women across the lifespan. In seven studies, we find that older men face the strongest prescriptions to behave less agentically and cede resources, whereas older women are comparatively spared. We show that agency prescriptions more strongly target older men, compared to older women (Studies 1a, 1b, 2) and their younger counterparts (Studies 3 and 4) and examine social and economic consequences for agentic behavior in political, economic, and academic domains. We also find that older men garner more extreme (i.e., polarized) reactions due to their greater perceived resource threat (Studies 4-6). We conclude by discussing theoretical implications for diversity research and practical considerations for accommodating the fast-aging population.
Keywords: gender, age, ageism, intersectionality, backlash
In Western societies, a substantial proportion of the adult population does not have an intimate partner. Why? Evidence from Reddit
Why Men Stay Single? Evidence from Reddit. Menelaos Apostolou. Evolutionary Psychological Science, https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40806-018-0163-7
Abstract: In Western societies, a substantial proportion of the adult population does not have an intimate partner. The current paper puts forward an evolutionary theoretical framework, where people stay single for three main reasons, namely the mismatch between ancestral and modern conditions has resulted in several individuals lacking the adaptations necessary for attracting and retaining mates, individuals can increase their fitness by opting out of relationships, and individuals have constraints that prevent them from attracting a mate. The paper attempted to identify the reasons that drive men to be single and to investigate whether they were consistent with the proposed theoretical framework. More specifically, 13,429 responses from a recent Reddit thread were analyzed, and 6794 responses were coded and classified in 43 categories. Among the most frequent reasons that men indicated for being single included poor flirting skills, low self-confidence, poor looks, shyness, low effort, and bad experience from previous relationships.
Abstract: In Western societies, a substantial proportion of the adult population does not have an intimate partner. The current paper puts forward an evolutionary theoretical framework, where people stay single for three main reasons, namely the mismatch between ancestral and modern conditions has resulted in several individuals lacking the adaptations necessary for attracting and retaining mates, individuals can increase their fitness by opting out of relationships, and individuals have constraints that prevent them from attracting a mate. The paper attempted to identify the reasons that drive men to be single and to investigate whether they were consistent with the proposed theoretical framework. More specifically, 13,429 responses from a recent Reddit thread were analyzed, and 6794 responses were coded and classified in 43 categories. Among the most frequent reasons that men indicated for being single included poor flirting skills, low self-confidence, poor looks, shyness, low effort, and bad experience from previous relationships.
High price, brand label, the use of invasive placebos & high placebo dose increase the expectations toward the beneficial effect of a placebo treatment, which in turn boost the placebo effect; neuroimaging let us peek at mechanisms underlying these effects
Are Blue Pills Better Than Green? How Treatment Features Modulate Placebo Effects. Karin Meissner, Klaus Linde. International Review of Neurobiology, https://doi.org/10.1016/bs.irn.2018.07.014
Abstract: Treatment-related expectations are important predictors for placebo effects in various medical conditions. They are formed by verbal and nonverbal cues during the administration of treatments, such as verbal suggestions, conscious and unconscious associations with previous treatments, characteristics of patients and health-care providers as well as perceptual characteristics of the treatment. This review provides an overview of studies that aimed to elucidate the impact of treatment characteristics on expectations and placebo effects. Results show that high price, brand label, the use of invasive placebos and high placebo dose increase the expectations toward the beneficial effect of a placebo treatment, which in turn boost the placebo effect. Neuroimaging studies provide first insights into the neurobiological mechanisms underlying these differential placebo effects.
Abstract: Treatment-related expectations are important predictors for placebo effects in various medical conditions. They are formed by verbal and nonverbal cues during the administration of treatments, such as verbal suggestions, conscious and unconscious associations with previous treatments, characteristics of patients and health-care providers as well as perceptual characteristics of the treatment. This review provides an overview of studies that aimed to elucidate the impact of treatment characteristics on expectations and placebo effects. Results show that high price, brand label, the use of invasive placebos and high placebo dose increase the expectations toward the beneficial effect of a placebo treatment, which in turn boost the placebo effect. Neuroimaging studies provide first insights into the neurobiological mechanisms underlying these differential placebo effects.
Handedness predicts Conservative-Republican preference and eliminates relations of Big Five personality to political orientation using the 48 contiguous American states as analytical units
Handedness predicts Conservative-Republican preference and eliminates relations of Big Five personality to political orientation using the 48 contiguous American states as analytical units. Stewart J. H. McCann. Laterality: Asymmetries of Body, Brain and Cognition, https://doi.org/10.1080/1357650X.2018.1508214
ABSTRACT: The two present nomothetic studies focused on the period from 1996 to 2012 to determine relations between handedness and political orientation using the 48 contiguous American states as analytical units. The estimated percentage of left-handers in each state operationally defined handedness. A composite measure of Conservative-Republican preference was created from CBS/New York Times/Gallup polls of state resident conservatism and the percent in each state voting Republican in each presidential election from 1996 to 2012. Study 1 showed that state levels of left-handedness correlated to an extremely high degree with Conservative-Republican preference (r = −.80). As well, with common demographic differences between states reflected in socioeconomic status, White population percent, and urban population percent controlled through multiple regression, handedness still accounted for an additional 37.2% of the variance in Conservative-Republican preference. Study 2 found that each of the Big Five personality variables correlated significantly with handedness and with Conservative-Republican preference, but in the opposite direction. Furthermore, Study 2 demonstrated quite surprisingly that all Big Five personality relations to Conservative-Republican preference were eliminated when handedness was controlled in multiple regression equations. For all regression equations, the global Moran’s I test specifically developed for detecting residual spatial autocorrelation indicated no significant spatial autocorrelation.
KEYWORDS: Handedness, conservatism, Republican, states, Big Five
ABSTRACT: The two present nomothetic studies focused on the period from 1996 to 2012 to determine relations between handedness and political orientation using the 48 contiguous American states as analytical units. The estimated percentage of left-handers in each state operationally defined handedness. A composite measure of Conservative-Republican preference was created from CBS/New York Times/Gallup polls of state resident conservatism and the percent in each state voting Republican in each presidential election from 1996 to 2012. Study 1 showed that state levels of left-handedness correlated to an extremely high degree with Conservative-Republican preference (r = −.80). As well, with common demographic differences between states reflected in socioeconomic status, White population percent, and urban population percent controlled through multiple regression, handedness still accounted for an additional 37.2% of the variance in Conservative-Republican preference. Study 2 found that each of the Big Five personality variables correlated significantly with handedness and with Conservative-Republican preference, but in the opposite direction. Furthermore, Study 2 demonstrated quite surprisingly that all Big Five personality relations to Conservative-Republican preference were eliminated when handedness was controlled in multiple regression equations. For all regression equations, the global Moran’s I test specifically developed for detecting residual spatial autocorrelation indicated no significant spatial autocorrelation.
KEYWORDS: Handedness, conservatism, Republican, states, Big Five
Tuesday, August 7, 2018
Higher levels of childhood intelligence predict increased support for economic conservatism in adulthood; this link was partially mediated by educational attainment & achieved social class/income
Higher levels of childhood intelligence predict increased support for economic conservatism in adulthood. Gary J.Lewis, Timothy C.Bates. Intelligence, Volume 70, September–October 2018, Pages 36-41. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.intell.2018.07.006
Highlights
• Higher intelligence is associated with lower levels of social conservatism.
• Does intelligence also predict economically conservative attitudes?
• We addressed this question using two large, longitudinal UK based cohorts.
• Childhood intelligence positively predicted economic conservatism in adulthood.
• This link was partially mediated by educational attainment and achieved social class/income.
Abstract: A number of studies have reported that higher intelligence is associated with socially liberal attitudes. Less clear, however, is whether this link extends to economic attitudes, although there are indications that higher intelligence is associated with economically conservative attitudes. Here in two large, longitudinal UK cohorts (each N > 7100) we assessed whether childhood intelligence predicted adulthood economic attitudes. In both cohorts we saw that higher levels of childhood (age 10–11) intelligence were related to higher levels of economic conservatism in adulthood (age 30–33). These effects were robust to the inclusion of potential confounders (sex, parental social class, childhood conduct problems). Moreover, this pathway was at least partially mediated by educational attainment and achieved social class/income. These findings confirm the importance of intelligence as an important phenotype for understanding the origins of economic attitudes. Implications for self-interest and rational-interest theories are discussed.
Highlights
• Higher intelligence is associated with lower levels of social conservatism.
• Does intelligence also predict economically conservative attitudes?
• We addressed this question using two large, longitudinal UK based cohorts.
• Childhood intelligence positively predicted economic conservatism in adulthood.
• This link was partially mediated by educational attainment and achieved social class/income.
Abstract: A number of studies have reported that higher intelligence is associated with socially liberal attitudes. Less clear, however, is whether this link extends to economic attitudes, although there are indications that higher intelligence is associated with economically conservative attitudes. Here in two large, longitudinal UK cohorts (each N > 7100) we assessed whether childhood intelligence predicted adulthood economic attitudes. In both cohorts we saw that higher levels of childhood (age 10–11) intelligence were related to higher levels of economic conservatism in adulthood (age 30–33). These effects were robust to the inclusion of potential confounders (sex, parental social class, childhood conduct problems). Moreover, this pathway was at least partially mediated by educational attainment and achieved social class/income. These findings confirm the importance of intelligence as an important phenotype for understanding the origins of economic attitudes. Implications for self-interest and rational-interest theories are discussed.
Exploring the Impact of Personal and Partner Traits on Sexuality: Sexual Excitation, Sexual Inhibition, and Big Five Predict Sexual Function in Couples
Exploring the Impact of Personal and Partner Traits on Sexuality: Sexual Excitation, Sexual Inhibition, and Big Five Predict Sexual Function in Couples. Julia Velten, Julia Brailovskaia & Jürgen Margraf. The Journal of Sex Research, https://doi.org/10.1080/00224499.2018.1491521
Abstract: Sexual difficulties are common among women and men and are associated with various mental and physical health problems. Although psychological traits are known to impact sexual attitudes and behavior, sexuality- and personality-related traits have not been jointly investigated to assess their relevance for sexual functioning in couples. The aim of this study was to investigate how psychological traits of two partners influence women’s and men’s sexual function. Data from 964 couples, representative of the adult population in Germany, were analyzed. Sexual function was assessed with the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) and the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF). Sexuality-related traits were measured with the Sexual Excitation/Sexual Inhibition Inventory for Women and Men (SESII-W/M). Personality was measured with self-report and partner-rating versions of the Big Five Inventory (BFI). Sexual excitation was a positive and sexual inhibition was a negative predictor of sexual function in both genders. Women whose partners were sexually inhibited reported lower sexual function. Conscientious individuals reported better sexual function. Women whose partners were more conscientious also had better sexual function. Assessing partner-related factors may be helpful to identify predisposing and maintaining factors of sexual dysfunctions, especially in women.
Abstract: Sexual difficulties are common among women and men and are associated with various mental and physical health problems. Although psychological traits are known to impact sexual attitudes and behavior, sexuality- and personality-related traits have not been jointly investigated to assess their relevance for sexual functioning in couples. The aim of this study was to investigate how psychological traits of two partners influence women’s and men’s sexual function. Data from 964 couples, representative of the adult population in Germany, were analyzed. Sexual function was assessed with the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) and the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF). Sexuality-related traits were measured with the Sexual Excitation/Sexual Inhibition Inventory for Women and Men (SESII-W/M). Personality was measured with self-report and partner-rating versions of the Big Five Inventory (BFI). Sexual excitation was a positive and sexual inhibition was a negative predictor of sexual function in both genders. Women whose partners were sexually inhibited reported lower sexual function. Conscientious individuals reported better sexual function. Women whose partners were more conscientious also had better sexual function. Assessing partner-related factors may be helpful to identify predisposing and maintaining factors of sexual dysfunctions, especially in women.
When consumers self-create a product, they appreciate it to a greater degree, are likely to consume it more mindfully, & experience greater domain-specific & general well-being; private self-consciousness strengthens the effect
The self-creation effect: making a product supports its mindful consumption and the consumer’s well-being. Johanna Brunneder, Utpal Dholakia. Marketing Letters, https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11002-018-9465-6
Abstract: Popular cultural movements such as Slow Food and the Maker Movement emphasize product self-creation―personally creating products, then consuming them, as a core value. We present the first research to examine how product self-creation affects the individual’s consumption experience of such products and their well-being. Seven field and lab studies provide evidence that when consumers self-create a product, they appreciate it to a greater degree, are likely to consume it more mindfully, and experience greater domain-specific and general well-being. The individual’s private self-consciousness strengthens the effect. Self-creating products offers consumers with a practical, versatile, and personal interest-driven way to transcend their traditional role, to consume more consciously and sustainably, while concurrently enhancing the enjoyment of their consumption experience.
Abstract: Popular cultural movements such as Slow Food and the Maker Movement emphasize product self-creation―personally creating products, then consuming them, as a core value. We present the first research to examine how product self-creation affects the individual’s consumption experience of such products and their well-being. Seven field and lab studies provide evidence that when consumers self-create a product, they appreciate it to a greater degree, are likely to consume it more mindfully, and experience greater domain-specific and general well-being. The individual’s private self-consciousness strengthens the effect. Self-creating products offers consumers with a practical, versatile, and personal interest-driven way to transcend their traditional role, to consume more consciously and sustainably, while concurrently enhancing the enjoyment of their consumption experience.
Children were taught how to deceive to win a game; these children deceived better than control children, & improved their executive function & theory of mind skills; claim it is the 1st experiment to show learning to deceive enhances cognitive skills in children
Learning to deceive has cognitive benefits. Xiao Pan Ding et al. Journal of Experimental Child Psychology, Volume 176, December 2018, Pages 26-38. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jecp.2018.07.008
Highlights
• Children played hide-and-seek game on four consecutive days.
• Experimental children were taught how to deceive to win the game.
• We found experimental children deceived better than control children.
• Experimental children improved their executive function and theory of mind skills.
• It is first to show learning to deceive enhances cognitive skills in children.
Abstract: Recent evolutionary, cultural, and economic theories have postulated strong connections between human sociality and complex cognition. One prediction derived from this work is that deception should confer cognitive benefits on children. The current research tests this possibility by examining whether learning to deceive during early childhood promotes more advanced theory of mind and executive function skills during a time when these skills are undergoing rapid development. A total of 42 children (Mage = 40.45 months; 22 boys and 20 girls) who showed no initial ability to deceive were randomly assigned to an experimental condition or a control condition. In both conditions, they played a hide-and-seek game against an adult opponent on 4 consecutive days, but only the children in the experimental condition were taught how to deceive the opponent in order to win the game. Unlike children in the control condition, children in the experimental condition significantly improved their executive function and theory of mind skills, providing the first evidence that learning to deceive causally enhances cognitive skills in young children.
Highlights
• Children played hide-and-seek game on four consecutive days.
• Experimental children were taught how to deceive to win the game.
• We found experimental children deceived better than control children.
• Experimental children improved their executive function and theory of mind skills.
• It is first to show learning to deceive enhances cognitive skills in children.
Abstract: Recent evolutionary, cultural, and economic theories have postulated strong connections between human sociality and complex cognition. One prediction derived from this work is that deception should confer cognitive benefits on children. The current research tests this possibility by examining whether learning to deceive during early childhood promotes more advanced theory of mind and executive function skills during a time when these skills are undergoing rapid development. A total of 42 children (Mage = 40.45 months; 22 boys and 20 girls) who showed no initial ability to deceive were randomly assigned to an experimental condition or a control condition. In both conditions, they played a hide-and-seek game against an adult opponent on 4 consecutive days, but only the children in the experimental condition were taught how to deceive the opponent in order to win the game. Unlike children in the control condition, children in the experimental condition significantly improved their executive function and theory of mind skills, providing the first evidence that learning to deceive causally enhances cognitive skills in young children.
Monday, August 6, 2018
Big gender differences in reported intensity of arousal associated with one’s own as compared to a partner’s body: males reported significantly stronger arousal whilst touching or looking at a partner’s body, whereas females rated it as more arousing for own body to be touched or looked at
Tsakiris, Manos, Lara Maister, Aikaterini Fotopoulou, and Oliver Turnbull. 2018. “The Erogenous Mirror: Intersubjective and Multisensory Maps of Sexual Arousal.” PsyArXiv. August 5. doi:10.31234/osf.io/zreku
Abstract: Several areas of the body, known as ‘erogenous zones’, are able to elicit sexual arousal in the absence of direct genital stimulation. Previous scientific investigations of these erogenous zones have been restricted to the effects of tactile stimulation of one’s own body. However, human sexual interactions are interpersonal and multimodal, involving mutual touching, and looking at each other’s bodies. Here, we take a novel interpersonal and multimodal approach with a large (N=613) questionnaire-based sample to characterise the self-reported intensity and distribution of erogenous zones, mapped both on one’s own body and on an imagined partner’s body in response to being touched but also being looked at. We revealed two key findings; first, we observed clear correspondences between individuals’ topographic distributions of erogenous zones on their own and their partners’ bodies, as well as between those reported to be elicited by tactile and visual stimulation, suggesting the presence of an erogenous mirroring across individual and sensory modalities. Second, strong gender differences were observed in the reported intensity of arousal associated with one’s own as compared to a partner’s body; males reported significantly stronger arousal whilst touching or looking at a partner’s body, whereas females rated it as more arousing for their own body to be touched or looked at. Therefore, the erogeneity of body parts is represented on a multimodal, somatotopic map, which can be activated similarly for both one’s own and the partner’s body, highlighting for the first time the interpersonal and multisensory organization of the erogenous body.
Abstract: Several areas of the body, known as ‘erogenous zones’, are able to elicit sexual arousal in the absence of direct genital stimulation. Previous scientific investigations of these erogenous zones have been restricted to the effects of tactile stimulation of one’s own body. However, human sexual interactions are interpersonal and multimodal, involving mutual touching, and looking at each other’s bodies. Here, we take a novel interpersonal and multimodal approach with a large (N=613) questionnaire-based sample to characterise the self-reported intensity and distribution of erogenous zones, mapped both on one’s own body and on an imagined partner’s body in response to being touched but also being looked at. We revealed two key findings; first, we observed clear correspondences between individuals’ topographic distributions of erogenous zones on their own and their partners’ bodies, as well as between those reported to be elicited by tactile and visual stimulation, suggesting the presence of an erogenous mirroring across individual and sensory modalities. Second, strong gender differences were observed in the reported intensity of arousal associated with one’s own as compared to a partner’s body; males reported significantly stronger arousal whilst touching or looking at a partner’s body, whereas females rated it as more arousing for their own body to be touched or looked at. Therefore, the erogeneity of body parts is represented on a multimodal, somatotopic map, which can be activated similarly for both one’s own and the partner’s body, highlighting for the first time the interpersonal and multisensory organization of the erogenous body.
Participants consumed an average of 110 unique foods over 28 days; females consumed more unique foods than did males over most all eating occasions; participants were generally satisfied with the amount of variety they selected
Variety in the diets of free-living, food-secure adults. Lauren E. Wisdorf et al. Food Quality and Preference, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodqual.2018.08.005
Highlights
• We determined the variety of foods consumed by free-living, food-secure individuals.
• We examined how the amount of variety consumed affected satisfaction with variety.
• Participants consumed an average of 110 unique foods over 28 days.
• Females consumed more unique foods than did males over most all eating occasions.
• Participants were generally satisfied with the amount of variety they selected.
Abstract: Nursing homes, school lunch programs, institutional cafeterias, and households often struggle with balancing the cost of adding more variety with what consumers need to be satisfied. But we were unaware of any studies examining what people consider satisfactory variety within and across meals, days, weeks, and months. Our objectives were first to determine the variety of foods consumed by free-living, food-secure individuals 25 years of age or older with Bachelor’s degrees and no food allergies or sensitivities, and second, to evaluate how the amount of variety consumed in their diets affected their satisfaction with variety.
Participants (n = 102, 50% male) maintained a 28-day online food diary with seven eating occasions: breakfast, morning snack, lunch, afternoon snack, early evening snack, dinner, and late evening snack. After completing each week, participants rated their satisfaction with the variety in their diets that week. We measured dietary variety both as a count of unique foods, and as a proportion of unique foods. We evaluated how dietary variety differed by gender and by eating occasions. The total number of foods consumed each week, the count of unique foods, and the proportion of unique foods were compared with ratings of satisfaction with variety.
Participants consumed an average of 110 unique foods over 28 days with higher counts of unique foods for dinner (46 items), followed by lunch (38 items), and then breakfast (21 items). The highest proportions of unique foods were consumed at dinner (0.60) and early evening snack (0.59). Females consumed higher counts of unique foods than did males over most eating occasions. None of our dietary variety measures predicted participants’ satisfaction with variety. Our food-secure, highly educated, and free-living participants provided themselves with the amount of variety they needed to feel generally satisfied.
Highlights
• We determined the variety of foods consumed by free-living, food-secure individuals.
• We examined how the amount of variety consumed affected satisfaction with variety.
• Participants consumed an average of 110 unique foods over 28 days.
• Females consumed more unique foods than did males over most all eating occasions.
• Participants were generally satisfied with the amount of variety they selected.
Abstract: Nursing homes, school lunch programs, institutional cafeterias, and households often struggle with balancing the cost of adding more variety with what consumers need to be satisfied. But we were unaware of any studies examining what people consider satisfactory variety within and across meals, days, weeks, and months. Our objectives were first to determine the variety of foods consumed by free-living, food-secure individuals 25 years of age or older with Bachelor’s degrees and no food allergies or sensitivities, and second, to evaluate how the amount of variety consumed in their diets affected their satisfaction with variety.
Participants (n = 102, 50% male) maintained a 28-day online food diary with seven eating occasions: breakfast, morning snack, lunch, afternoon snack, early evening snack, dinner, and late evening snack. After completing each week, participants rated their satisfaction with the variety in their diets that week. We measured dietary variety both as a count of unique foods, and as a proportion of unique foods. We evaluated how dietary variety differed by gender and by eating occasions. The total number of foods consumed each week, the count of unique foods, and the proportion of unique foods were compared with ratings of satisfaction with variety.
Participants consumed an average of 110 unique foods over 28 days with higher counts of unique foods for dinner (46 items), followed by lunch (38 items), and then breakfast (21 items). The highest proportions of unique foods were consumed at dinner (0.60) and early evening snack (0.59). Females consumed higher counts of unique foods than did males over most eating occasions. None of our dietary variety measures predicted participants’ satisfaction with variety. Our food-secure, highly educated, and free-living participants provided themselves with the amount of variety they needed to feel generally satisfied.
Brain: Some proteins are surprisingly long lived & resist proteasome decay, leading in pathological cases to prion disorders such as Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease; how this works at molecular levels & relates to age-related cellular burden in neurons that never “rejuvenate” through cell division?
Chapter 3. Prahlad & Chikka: Aging and the brain. In The Wiley Handbook on the Aging Mind and Brain. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781118772034.ch3
This chapter reviews molecular and cellular aspects of aging in the context of the evolution of aging. What is the advantage to humankind of long living? Organismal aging as a postreproductive process is not under strong reproductive selection. Extensions of lifespan may even correlate with reduced reproduction. The oldest known person ever, Jeanne Calment, died at age 122 and had only one daughter. Hers is a prominent human example of a broader inverse relationship between longevity and fertility across species, whose foundations remain unclear. A central theme of aging is the molecular and cellular instability and the role of the brain in regulating these processes. Some proteins are surprisingly long lived and resist proteasome decay, leading in pathological cases to prion disorders such as Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. The authors review how this works at molecular levels and relates to age-related cellular burden in neurons that never “rejuvenate” through cell division. Parabiosis, or sharing of blood circulation of two organisms of different age, is the best known example of how blood-born molecules can affect organism vitality and longevity, possibly through additional trophic factors in the brain. This chapter lays biological foundations for interpreting findings on the aging mind and brain covered throughout this book.
This chapter reviews molecular and cellular aspects of aging in the context of the evolution of aging. What is the advantage to humankind of long living? Organismal aging as a postreproductive process is not under strong reproductive selection. Extensions of lifespan may even correlate with reduced reproduction. The oldest known person ever, Jeanne Calment, died at age 122 and had only one daughter. Hers is a prominent human example of a broader inverse relationship between longevity and fertility across species, whose foundations remain unclear. A central theme of aging is the molecular and cellular instability and the role of the brain in regulating these processes. Some proteins are surprisingly long lived and resist proteasome decay, leading in pathological cases to prion disorders such as Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. The authors review how this works at molecular levels and relates to age-related cellular burden in neurons that never “rejuvenate” through cell division. Parabiosis, or sharing of blood circulation of two organisms of different age, is the best known example of how blood-born molecules can affect organism vitality and longevity, possibly through additional trophic factors in the brain. This chapter lays biological foundations for interpreting findings on the aging mind and brain covered throughout this book.
Social networks, social relationships, and their effects on the aging mind and brain
Chapter 2. Ashida & Schafer: Social networks, social relationships, and their effects on the aging mind and brain. In The Wiley Handbook on the Aging Mind and Brain. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781118772034.ch2
Summary: People, like cells in a person’s body, are parts of dynamic systems and a network of support. Ashida and Schafer explore how social interactions at various levels affect healthy aging, much as cells in a body depend on functions of other parts. Mechanistic details of how such social interactions affect mind and brain health remain unclear, and individual variations tend to buck trends, yet common themes of social dependency emerge. Evidence strongly supports that caregiver and care receiver form dyads driven, for better or worse, by interactive dynamics at multiple levels. Social networks and interactions benefit healthy aging, but few attempts have been made to measure these interactions and harness their potential for improving healthy mind and brain aging in a rapidly changing society––where family interactions are progressively replaced by distant social networks in cyberspace. The effects of these dynamic changes on healthy aging of an ever-increasing population of seniors ready and willing to maintain social engagement are critical areas to be explored.
Summary: People, like cells in a person’s body, are parts of dynamic systems and a network of support. Ashida and Schafer explore how social interactions at various levels affect healthy aging, much as cells in a body depend on functions of other parts. Mechanistic details of how such social interactions affect mind and brain health remain unclear, and individual variations tend to buck trends, yet common themes of social dependency emerge. Evidence strongly supports that caregiver and care receiver form dyads driven, for better or worse, by interactive dynamics at multiple levels. Social networks and interactions benefit healthy aging, but few attempts have been made to measure these interactions and harness their potential for improving healthy mind and brain aging in a rapidly changing society––where family interactions are progressively replaced by distant social networks in cyberspace. The effects of these dynamic changes on healthy aging of an ever-increasing population of seniors ready and willing to maintain social engagement are critical areas to be explored.
During early adolescence, boys receiving school-based sex education had more immature sexual beliefs than those who had not; later this is corrected
Let Us Talk About Sexual Immaturity in Adolescence: Implications for School-Based Sex Education. Anneliese C. Bolland et al. Sexuality Research and Social Policy, https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13178-018-0348-7
Abstract: While rates of sexual activity among adolescents have declined, they remain high among adolescents living in poverty. Risky sexual behaviors are often compounded, placing adolescents at greater risk for increased prevalence of sexual behaviors during later adolescence and other behaviors that may compromise later life chances. Sexual immaturity may influence sexual initiation and trajectories of sexual behavior. In the current study, using a growth curve framework, data from the Mobile Youth and Poverty Study are used to model how sexual immaturity develops across adolescence as a function of age, gender, and sex education. Results suggest that girls are less sexually immature than boys, regardless of exposure to school-based sex education. For girls, sexual immaturity trajectories were similar throughout adolescence. However, during early adolescence, boys receiving school-based sex education had more immature sexual beliefs than those who had not. By middle adolescence, these differences had disappeared, and by late adolescence, boys receiving sex education had more mature attitudes boys who had not. Our results suggest that school-based sex education curricula should take into consideration how sexual maturity is portrayed among adolescents, particularly those who live in impoverished communities.
Abstract: While rates of sexual activity among adolescents have declined, they remain high among adolescents living in poverty. Risky sexual behaviors are often compounded, placing adolescents at greater risk for increased prevalence of sexual behaviors during later adolescence and other behaviors that may compromise later life chances. Sexual immaturity may influence sexual initiation and trajectories of sexual behavior. In the current study, using a growth curve framework, data from the Mobile Youth and Poverty Study are used to model how sexual immaturity develops across adolescence as a function of age, gender, and sex education. Results suggest that girls are less sexually immature than boys, regardless of exposure to school-based sex education. For girls, sexual immaturity trajectories were similar throughout adolescence. However, during early adolescence, boys receiving school-based sex education had more immature sexual beliefs than those who had not. By middle adolescence, these differences had disappeared, and by late adolescence, boys receiving sex education had more mature attitudes boys who had not. Our results suggest that school-based sex education curricula should take into consideration how sexual maturity is portrayed among adolescents, particularly those who live in impoverished communities.
Sunday, August 5, 2018
Symptom misinformation: Participants were provided with feedback for some symptoms (targets), misleadingly suggesting that a slight majority of their peers experienced these targets on a regular basis; symptom ratings went down for control but not for target symptoms
Merckelbach, H., Dalsklev, M., van Helvoort, D., Boskovic, I., & Otgaar, H. (2018). Symptom self-reports are susceptible to misinformation. Psychology of Consciousness: Theory, Research, and Practice, http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/cns0000159
Abstract: We examined whether self-reported symptoms are affected by explicit and implicit misinformation. In Experiment 1, undergraduates (N = 60) rated how often they experienced somatic and psychological symptoms. During a subsequent interview, they were exposed to misinformation about 2 of their ratings: One was inflated (upgraded misinformation), whereas another was deflated (downgraded misinformation). Close to 82% of the participants accepted the upward symptom misinformation, whereas 67% accepted the downward manipulation. Also, 27% confabulated reasons for upgraded symptom ratings, whereas 8% confabulated reasons for downgraded ratings. At a follow-up test, some days later, participants (n = 55) tended to escalate their symptom ratings in accordance with the upgraded misinformation. Such internalization was less clear for downgraded misinformation. There was no statistically significant relation between dissociativity and acceptance or internalization of symptom misinformation. In Experiment 2, a more subtle and implicit form of misinformation was employed. Undergraduates (N = 50) completed a checklist of symptoms and were provided with feedback for some symptoms (targets), misleadingly suggesting that a slight majority of their peers experienced these targets on a regular basis. Next, participants rated the checklist again. Overall, symptom ratings went down for control but not for target symptoms. Taken together, our results demonstrate that symptom reports are susceptible to misinformation. The systematic study of symptom misinformation may help to understand iatrogenic effects in psychotherapy.
Abstract: We examined whether self-reported symptoms are affected by explicit and implicit misinformation. In Experiment 1, undergraduates (N = 60) rated how often they experienced somatic and psychological symptoms. During a subsequent interview, they were exposed to misinformation about 2 of their ratings: One was inflated (upgraded misinformation), whereas another was deflated (downgraded misinformation). Close to 82% of the participants accepted the upward symptom misinformation, whereas 67% accepted the downward manipulation. Also, 27% confabulated reasons for upgraded symptom ratings, whereas 8% confabulated reasons for downgraded ratings. At a follow-up test, some days later, participants (n = 55) tended to escalate their symptom ratings in accordance with the upgraded misinformation. Such internalization was less clear for downgraded misinformation. There was no statistically significant relation between dissociativity and acceptance or internalization of symptom misinformation. In Experiment 2, a more subtle and implicit form of misinformation was employed. Undergraduates (N = 50) completed a checklist of symptoms and were provided with feedback for some symptoms (targets), misleadingly suggesting that a slight majority of their peers experienced these targets on a regular basis. Next, participants rated the checklist again. Overall, symptom ratings went down for control but not for target symptoms. Taken together, our results demonstrate that symptom reports are susceptible to misinformation. The systematic study of symptom misinformation may help to understand iatrogenic effects in psychotherapy.
The effects of color bands on zebra finch behavior, physiology, life history, and fitness: Common knowledge that is NON-REPRODUCIBLE
Irreproducible text‐book “knowledge”: The effects of color bands on zebra finch fitness. Daiping Wang. Wolfgang Forstmeier, Malika Ihle, Mehdi Khadraoui, Sofia Jerónimo, Katrin Martin, Bart Kempenaers. Evolution, https://doi.org/10.1111/evo.13459
Abstract: Many fields of science—including behavioral ecology—currently experience a heated debate about the extent to which publication bias against null findings results in a misrepresentative scientific literature. Here, we show a case of an extreme mismatch between strong positive support for an effect in the literature and a failure to detect this effect across multiple attempts at replication. For decades, researchers working with birds have individually marked their study species with colored leg bands. For the zebra finch Taeniopygia guttata, a model organism in behavioral ecology, many studies over the past 35 years have reported effects of bands of certain colors on male or female attractiveness and further on behavior, physiology, life history, and fitness. Only eight of 39 publications presented exclusively null findings. Here, we analyze the results of eight experiments in which we quantified the fitness of a total of 730 color‐banded individuals from four captive populations (two domesticated and two recently wild derived). This sample size exceeds the combined sample size of all 23 publications that clearly support the “color‐band effect” hypothesis. We found that band color explains no variance in either male or female fitness. We also found no heterogeneity in color‐band effects, arguing against both context and population specificity. Analysis of unpublished data from three other laboratories strengthens the generality of our null finding. Finally, a meta‐analysis of previously published results is indicative of selective reporting and suggests that the effect size approaches zero when sample size is large. We argue that our field—and science in general—would benefit from more effective means to counter confirmation bias and publication bias.
Abstract: Many fields of science—including behavioral ecology—currently experience a heated debate about the extent to which publication bias against null findings results in a misrepresentative scientific literature. Here, we show a case of an extreme mismatch between strong positive support for an effect in the literature and a failure to detect this effect across multiple attempts at replication. For decades, researchers working with birds have individually marked their study species with colored leg bands. For the zebra finch Taeniopygia guttata, a model organism in behavioral ecology, many studies over the past 35 years have reported effects of bands of certain colors on male or female attractiveness and further on behavior, physiology, life history, and fitness. Only eight of 39 publications presented exclusively null findings. Here, we analyze the results of eight experiments in which we quantified the fitness of a total of 730 color‐banded individuals from four captive populations (two domesticated and two recently wild derived). This sample size exceeds the combined sample size of all 23 publications that clearly support the “color‐band effect” hypothesis. We found that band color explains no variance in either male or female fitness. We also found no heterogeneity in color‐band effects, arguing against both context and population specificity. Analysis of unpublished data from three other laboratories strengthens the generality of our null finding. Finally, a meta‐analysis of previously published results is indicative of selective reporting and suggests that the effect size approaches zero when sample size is large. We argue that our field—and science in general—would benefit from more effective means to counter confirmation bias and publication bias.
Saturday, August 4, 2018
Research has predominantly focused on the negative effects of adversity on health and well-being; but under certain circumstances, adversity may have the potential for positive outcomes, such as increased resilience and thriving (steeling effect)
A Salutogenic Perspective on Adverse Experiences. The Curvilinear Relationship of Adversity and Well-Being. Jan Höltge et al. European Journal of Health Psychology (2018), 25, pp. 53-69. https://doi.org/10.1027/2512-8442/a000011
Abstract. Research has predominantly focused on the negative effects of adversity on health and well-being. However, the salutogenic perspective suggests that adversity may not always be detrimental (Antonovsky, 1996). In fact, under certain circumstances, adversity may have the potential for positive outcomes, such as increased resilience and thriving (Carver, 1998; Rutter, 1987). The “steeling effect” suggests that past experiences of adversity may increase resistance to later adversities. It proposes that moderate adversity may facilitate more adaptive functioning than no adversity or high levels of adversity (Rutter, 2006, 2012). The relationship between adversity and health may be optimally assessed using curvilinear models, yet the majority of previous studies have examined linear associations (Masten & Cicchetti, 2016). It is therefore the aim of this review to determine whether moderate adversity is associated with more adaptive functioning when compared to no and high levels of adversity. Practical implications and future research are also discussed.
Keywords: systematic review, steeling effect, resilience, thriving, curvilinear
Abstract. Research has predominantly focused on the negative effects of adversity on health and well-being. However, the salutogenic perspective suggests that adversity may not always be detrimental (Antonovsky, 1996). In fact, under certain circumstances, adversity may have the potential for positive outcomes, such as increased resilience and thriving (Carver, 1998; Rutter, 1987). The “steeling effect” suggests that past experiences of adversity may increase resistance to later adversities. It proposes that moderate adversity may facilitate more adaptive functioning than no adversity or high levels of adversity (Rutter, 2006, 2012). The relationship between adversity and health may be optimally assessed using curvilinear models, yet the majority of previous studies have examined linear associations (Masten & Cicchetti, 2016). It is therefore the aim of this review to determine whether moderate adversity is associated with more adaptive functioning when compared to no and high levels of adversity. Practical implications and future research are also discussed.
Keywords: systematic review, steeling effect, resilience, thriving, curvilinear
The Status Signals Paradox: When making new friends, people tend to think that displaying high-status markers will make them more attractive to others, but they are found to be less attractive
The Status Signals Paradox. Stephen M. Garcia, Kimberlee Weaver, Patricia Chen.Social Psychological and Personality Science, https://doi.org/10.1177/1948550618783712
Abstract: Making friends is critical to well-being. We also live in a society where the display of status is ubiquitous and billions of dollars are spent on high-status consumer goods. In the present analysis, we introduce the Status Signals Paradox: When making new friends, people tend to think that displaying high-status markers of themselves (e.g., a BMW, a Tag Heuer watch) will make them more attractive to others than neutral markers (e.g., a Honda, a generic brand watch); however, from the perspective of would-be friends, individuals who display high-status markers are found to be less attractive as new friends than those with neutral status markers. Six studies provide converging evidence of the status signals paradox.
Keywords: social comparison, presenter paradox, decision-making, naive realism
Abstract: Making friends is critical to well-being. We also live in a society where the display of status is ubiquitous and billions of dollars are spent on high-status consumer goods. In the present analysis, we introduce the Status Signals Paradox: When making new friends, people tend to think that displaying high-status markers of themselves (e.g., a BMW, a Tag Heuer watch) will make them more attractive to others than neutral markers (e.g., a Honda, a generic brand watch); however, from the perspective of would-be friends, individuals who display high-status markers are found to be less attractive as new friends than those with neutral status markers. Six studies provide converging evidence of the status signals paradox.
Keywords: social comparison, presenter paradox, decision-making, naive realism
Peripheral Factors Affecting the Evaluation of Artworks: When described as created by famous artists, the works were liked more and judged more interesting & beautiful & participants (n = 309), all art nonexperts, also were willing to pay more to see the works
Peripheral Factors Affecting the Evaluation of Artworks. Stefano Mastandrea, William D. Crano. Empirical Studies of the Arts, https://doi.org/10.1177/0276237418790916
Abstract: The goal of the research was to determine whether artworks said to be created by famous artists were appreciated more than the same artworks attributed to nonfamous artists. Analysis indicated that the works attributed to famous artists were more appreciated than the identical works attributed to nonfamous artists: The works were liked more and judged more interesting and beautiful (all p values < .001). Participants (N = 309), all art nonexperts, also were willing to pay more to see the works if described as created by famous artists (p < .001); importantly, however, no differences were found in ratings of the works’ comprehensibility. This pattern of results suggests that judgmental variations were attributable to participants’ peripheral processing of factors not intrinsic to the work itself. Dual process models of attitudes, popular in social psychology, were invoked to provide a framework for understanding the findings.
Keywords: art, persuasion, liking, comprehension, peripheral judgment processes
Abstract: The goal of the research was to determine whether artworks said to be created by famous artists were appreciated more than the same artworks attributed to nonfamous artists. Analysis indicated that the works attributed to famous artists were more appreciated than the identical works attributed to nonfamous artists: The works were liked more and judged more interesting and beautiful (all p values < .001). Participants (N = 309), all art nonexperts, also were willing to pay more to see the works if described as created by famous artists (p < .001); importantly, however, no differences were found in ratings of the works’ comprehensibility. This pattern of results suggests that judgmental variations were attributable to participants’ peripheral processing of factors not intrinsic to the work itself. Dual process models of attitudes, popular in social psychology, were invoked to provide a framework for understanding the findings.
Keywords: art, persuasion, liking, comprehension, peripheral judgment processes
Male Testosterone Does Not Adapt to the Partner's Menstrual Cycle
Ström JO, Ingberg E, Slezak JK, et al. Male Testosterone Does Not Adapt to the Partner's Menstrual Cycle. The Journal of Sexual Medicine, Volume 15, Issue 8, August 2018, Pages 1103-1110. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsxm.2018.06.003
Abstract
Background: It has not yet been established whether men in heterosexual relationships adapt their hormone levels to their female partner's menstrual cycle to allocate reproductive resources to the period when the female is actually fertile.
Aim: This prospective observational study tested the hypothesis that some males have peaks in testosterone or acne (a possible biomarker for androgen activity) near their partners' ovulation, whereas other males display the opposite pattern.
Methods: 48 couples supplied menstrual cycle data, male salivary samples, and a protocol of daily activities for 120 days. Daily saliva samples were analyzed for testosterone concentrations by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The main hypothesis was tested by analyzing whether each individual male's testosterone/acne response to ovulation (either an increase or a decrease in comparison to the individual's average levels) was stable over time. To do this, we analyzed the Spearman correlation between individually normalized periovulatory testosterone and acne during the first half of the study versus the second half of the study.
Outcomes: Correlation between each male individual's periovulatory testosterone and acne patterns during the first half of the study versus the second half of the study.
Results: No predictability in the male individuals' testosterone (Spearman's rho = −0.018, P = .905) or acne (Spearman's rho = −0.036, P = .862) levels during ovulation was found.
Clinical translation: The study being “negative,” there is no obvious translational potential in the results.
Strengths and limitations: The main strength of this study lies in the excellent compliance of the study participants and the large number of sampling timepoints over several menstrual cycles, thereby allowing each male individual to be his own control subject. A limitation is that samples were only obtained in the morning; however, including later timepoints would have introduced a number of confounders and would also have hampered the study's feasibility.
Conclusions: The current results strongly indicate that male morning testosterone levels neither increase nor decrease in response to the partner's ovulation. This discordance to previous laboratory studies could indicate either that (i) the phenomenon of hormonal adaptation of men to women does not exist and earlier experimental studies should be questioned, (ii) that the phenomenon is short-lived/acute and wanes if the exposure is sustained, or (iii) that the male testosterone response may be directed toward other women than the partner.
Abstract
Background: It has not yet been established whether men in heterosexual relationships adapt their hormone levels to their female partner's menstrual cycle to allocate reproductive resources to the period when the female is actually fertile.
Aim: This prospective observational study tested the hypothesis that some males have peaks in testosterone or acne (a possible biomarker for androgen activity) near their partners' ovulation, whereas other males display the opposite pattern.
Methods: 48 couples supplied menstrual cycle data, male salivary samples, and a protocol of daily activities for 120 days. Daily saliva samples were analyzed for testosterone concentrations by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The main hypothesis was tested by analyzing whether each individual male's testosterone/acne response to ovulation (either an increase or a decrease in comparison to the individual's average levels) was stable over time. To do this, we analyzed the Spearman correlation between individually normalized periovulatory testosterone and acne during the first half of the study versus the second half of the study.
Outcomes: Correlation between each male individual's periovulatory testosterone and acne patterns during the first half of the study versus the second half of the study.
Results: No predictability in the male individuals' testosterone (Spearman's rho = −0.018, P = .905) or acne (Spearman's rho = −0.036, P = .862) levels during ovulation was found.
Clinical translation: The study being “negative,” there is no obvious translational potential in the results.
Strengths and limitations: The main strength of this study lies in the excellent compliance of the study participants and the large number of sampling timepoints over several menstrual cycles, thereby allowing each male individual to be his own control subject. A limitation is that samples were only obtained in the morning; however, including later timepoints would have introduced a number of confounders and would also have hampered the study's feasibility.
Conclusions: The current results strongly indicate that male morning testosterone levels neither increase nor decrease in response to the partner's ovulation. This discordance to previous laboratory studies could indicate either that (i) the phenomenon of hormonal adaptation of men to women does not exist and earlier experimental studies should be questioned, (ii) that the phenomenon is short-lived/acute and wanes if the exposure is sustained, or (iii) that the male testosterone response may be directed toward other women than the partner.
Big fires in California are less frequent and area burnt is smaller since at least 1970
Different historical fire–climate patterns in California. Jon E. Keeley and Alexandra D. Syphard. International Journal of Wildland Fire 26(4) 253-268. https://doi.org/10.1071/WF16102
Abstract: The relationship between annual variation in area burned and seasonal temperatures and precipitation was investigated for the major climate divisions in California. Historical analyses showed marked differences in fires on montane and foothill landscapes. Based on roughly a century of data, there are five important lessons on fire–climate relationships in California: (1) seasonal variations in temperature appear to have had minimal influence on area burned in the lower elevation, mostly non-forested, landscapes; (2) temperature has been a significant factor in controlling fire activity in higher elevation montane forests, but this varied greatly with season – winter and autumn temperatures showed no significant effect, whereas spring and summer temperatures were important determinants of area burned; (3) current season precipitation has been a strong controller of fire activity in forests, with drier years resulting in greater area burned on most United States Forest Service (USFS) lands in the state, but the effect of current-year precipitation was decidedly less on lower elevation California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection lands; (4) in largely grass-dominated foothills and valleys the magnitude of prior-year rainfall was positively tied to area burned in the following year, and we hypothesise that this is tied to greater fuel volume in the year following high rainfall. In the southern part of the state this effect has become stronger in recent decades and this likely is due to accelerated type conversion from shrubland to grassland in the latter part of the 20th century; (5) the strongest fire–climate models were on USFS lands in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, and these explained 42–52% of the variation in area burned; however, the models changed over time, with winter and spring precipitation being the primary drivers in the first half of the 20th century, but replaced by spring and summer temperatures after 1960.
Additional keywords: area burned, chaparral, climate change, forests, grasslands, ignitions, seasonal temperatures.
Abstract: The relationship between annual variation in area burned and seasonal temperatures and precipitation was investigated for the major climate divisions in California. Historical analyses showed marked differences in fires on montane and foothill landscapes. Based on roughly a century of data, there are five important lessons on fire–climate relationships in California: (1) seasonal variations in temperature appear to have had minimal influence on area burned in the lower elevation, mostly non-forested, landscapes; (2) temperature has been a significant factor in controlling fire activity in higher elevation montane forests, but this varied greatly with season – winter and autumn temperatures showed no significant effect, whereas spring and summer temperatures were important determinants of area burned; (3) current season precipitation has been a strong controller of fire activity in forests, with drier years resulting in greater area burned on most United States Forest Service (USFS) lands in the state, but the effect of current-year precipitation was decidedly less on lower elevation California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection lands; (4) in largely grass-dominated foothills and valleys the magnitude of prior-year rainfall was positively tied to area burned in the following year, and we hypothesise that this is tied to greater fuel volume in the year following high rainfall. In the southern part of the state this effect has become stronger in recent decades and this likely is due to accelerated type conversion from shrubland to grassland in the latter part of the 20th century; (5) the strongest fire–climate models were on USFS lands in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, and these explained 42–52% of the variation in area burned; however, the models changed over time, with winter and spring precipitation being the primary drivers in the first half of the 20th century, but replaced by spring and summer temperatures after 1960.
Additional keywords: area burned, chaparral, climate change, forests, grasslands, ignitions, seasonal temperatures.
Friday, August 3, 2018
Does physical attractiveness buy happiness? Women’s mating motivation and happiness
Does physical attractiveness buy happiness? Women’s mating motivation and happiness. Ahra Ko, Eunkook M. Suh. Motivation and Emotion, https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11031-018-9717-z
Abstract: Given the centrality of physical attractiveness in women’s mate value, we predicted that mating motive salience would increase the weight of physical attractiveness in women’s happiness. At an individual difference level, women with chronically high levels of mating motivation weighed physical attractiveness more heavily in their happiness than others (Study 1). When mating motivation were experimentally primed, happiness hinged more on physical attractiveness in the mating than in the control condition (Study 2). Finally, when compared across the ovulatory cycle, the importance of physical attractiveness in women’s happiness was accentuated during the high-fertility phase (Study 3). Results provide converging evidence that mating motivation increases the importance attached to and sensitivity towards physical attractiveness in appraising happiness among women. The current work suggests a novel evolutionary function of happiness, namely, to signal progress toward adaptively important goals.
Abstract: Given the centrality of physical attractiveness in women’s mate value, we predicted that mating motive salience would increase the weight of physical attractiveness in women’s happiness. At an individual difference level, women with chronically high levels of mating motivation weighed physical attractiveness more heavily in their happiness than others (Study 1). When mating motivation were experimentally primed, happiness hinged more on physical attractiveness in the mating than in the control condition (Study 2). Finally, when compared across the ovulatory cycle, the importance of physical attractiveness in women’s happiness was accentuated during the high-fertility phase (Study 3). Results provide converging evidence that mating motivation increases the importance attached to and sensitivity towards physical attractiveness in appraising happiness among women. The current work suggests a novel evolutionary function of happiness, namely, to signal progress toward adaptively important goals.
Both nonfiscal (external and internal imbalances) & fiscal variables help predict crises among advanced & emerging economies, performing well in out-of-sample forecasting & in predicting the most recent crises, a weakness of EWS in general
Predicting Fiscal Crises. Svetlana Cerovic ; Kerstin Gerling ; Andrew Hodge ; Paulo Medas. IMF Working Paper No. 18/181, August 3, 2018. http://www.imf.org/en/Publications/WP/Issues/2018/08/03/Predicting-Fiscal-Crises-46098
Summary: This paper identifies leading indicators of fiscal crises based on a large sample of countries at different stages of development over 1970-2015. Our results are robust to different methodologies and sample periods. Previous literature on early warning sistems (EWS) for fiscal crises is scarce and based on small samples of advanced and emerging markets, raising doubts about the robustness of the results. Using a larger sample, our analysis shows that both nonfiscal (external and internal imbalances) and fiscal variables help predict crises among advanced and emerging economies. Our models performed well in out-of-sample forecasting and in predicting the most recent crises, a weakness of EWS in general. We also build EWS for low income countries, which had been overlooked in the literature.
Summary: This paper identifies leading indicators of fiscal crises based on a large sample of countries at different stages of development over 1970-2015. Our results are robust to different methodologies and sample periods. Previous literature on early warning sistems (EWS) for fiscal crises is scarce and based on small samples of advanced and emerging markets, raising doubts about the robustness of the results. Using a larger sample, our analysis shows that both nonfiscal (external and internal imbalances) and fiscal variables help predict crises among advanced and emerging economies. Our models performed well in out-of-sample forecasting and in predicting the most recent crises, a weakness of EWS in general. We also build EWS for low income countries, which had been overlooked in the literature.
40‐ and especially 50‐year‐old women did appear significantly younger when wearing makeup, 30‐year‐old women looked no different in age with or without makeup, & 20‐year‐old women looked older with makeup
Differential effects of makeup on perceived age. Richard Russell et al. British Journal of Psychology, https://doi.org/10.1111/bjop.12337
Abstract: Makeup accentuates three youth‐related visual features – skin homogeneity, facial contrast, and facial feature size. By manipulating these visual features, makeup should make faces appear younger. We tested this hypothesis in an experiment in which participants estimated the age of carefully controlled photographs of faces with and without makeup. We found that 40‐ and especially 50‐year‐old women did appear significantly younger when wearing makeup. Contrary to our hypothesis, 30‐year‐old women looked no different in age with or without makeup, while 20‐year‐old women looked older with makeup. Two further studies replicated these results, finding that makeup made middle‐aged women look younger, but made young women look older. Seeking to better understand why makeup makes young women look older, we ran a final study and found evidence that people associate makeup use with adulthood. By activating associations with adulthood, makeup may provide an upward bias on age estimations of women who are not clearly adult. We propose that makeup affects social perceptions through bottom‐up routes, by modifying visual cues such as facial contrast, facial feature size, and skin homogeneity, and also through top‐down routes, by activating social representations and norms associated with makeup use.
Abstract: Makeup accentuates three youth‐related visual features – skin homogeneity, facial contrast, and facial feature size. By manipulating these visual features, makeup should make faces appear younger. We tested this hypothesis in an experiment in which participants estimated the age of carefully controlled photographs of faces with and without makeup. We found that 40‐ and especially 50‐year‐old women did appear significantly younger when wearing makeup. Contrary to our hypothesis, 30‐year‐old women looked no different in age with or without makeup, while 20‐year‐old women looked older with makeup. Two further studies replicated these results, finding that makeup made middle‐aged women look younger, but made young women look older. Seeking to better understand why makeup makes young women look older, we ran a final study and found evidence that people associate makeup use with adulthood. By activating associations with adulthood, makeup may provide an upward bias on age estimations of women who are not clearly adult. We propose that makeup affects social perceptions through bottom‐up routes, by modifying visual cues such as facial contrast, facial feature size, and skin homogeneity, and also through top‐down routes, by activating social representations and norms associated with makeup use.
Frequent consumption of fast foods (≥2 times/week) was only weakly associated with increased odds of being obese; some evidence suggests healthy food interventions may even exacerbate obesity
Evolutionary considerations on social status, eating behavior, and obesity. Ann E.Caldwell, R. DrewSayer. Appetite, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appet.2018.07.028
Abstract: Lower socioeconomic status (SES) is consistently related to higher obesity risk, especially in women living in developed countries such as the United States and Western Europe. Prevailing theories to describe this relationship have focused primarily on proximate level factors such as the generally poorer food environment (e.g. relative lack of healthy food options and higher concentrations of fast food restaurants) found in lower vs. higher SES neighborhoods and the higher financial costs associated with purchasing healthy, nutrient-dense foods compared to unhealthy, energy-dense foods. These factors are hypothesized to preclude the purchase of these foods by lower SES individuals. Unfortunately, public health interventions aimed at improving the food environment of lower SES communities and to provide financial resources for purchasing healthy foods have had limited success in reducing overall energy intake and body weight. Some evidence suggests these interventions may even exacerbate obesity. More recent hypotheses have shifted the focus to ultimate (or adaptive) factors that view increased energy intake and accrual of body fat among individuals of lower social status as adaptive strategies to protect against potential prolonged food scarcity. The purpose of this review is integrate past research at the proximate and ultimate levels with a consideration of how social status and SES during development (in utero through adolescence) may moderate the relationships between social status, eating behavior, and obesity. Utilizing an evolutionary framework that incorporates life history theory can lead to more integrative and thorough interpretations of past research and allow researchers to better elucidate the complex set of environmental, physiological, psychological, and behavioral factors that influence obesity risk among individuals of lower social status.
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Regardless of SES, frequent consumption of fast foods (≥2 times/week) was only weakly associated with increased odds of being obese (OR=1.35, p=0.06), and the relationship between neighborhood access to fast food and its consumption was weak and only borderline-significant. Another observational study of over 8000 participants found that higher net wealth (total assets minus total debt) was associated with slightly less overall fast food consumption, but that higher income (rather than “wealth”) was associated with a greater number of fast food meals in the past 7 days (Zagorsky & Smith, 2017). However, the authors noted that the associations were weak and unlikely to have a large public health impact. As an example, a $1 million increase in net wealth was associated with consuming only 0.7 less fast food meals per week.
Abstract: Lower socioeconomic status (SES) is consistently related to higher obesity risk, especially in women living in developed countries such as the United States and Western Europe. Prevailing theories to describe this relationship have focused primarily on proximate level factors such as the generally poorer food environment (e.g. relative lack of healthy food options and higher concentrations of fast food restaurants) found in lower vs. higher SES neighborhoods and the higher financial costs associated with purchasing healthy, nutrient-dense foods compared to unhealthy, energy-dense foods. These factors are hypothesized to preclude the purchase of these foods by lower SES individuals. Unfortunately, public health interventions aimed at improving the food environment of lower SES communities and to provide financial resources for purchasing healthy foods have had limited success in reducing overall energy intake and body weight. Some evidence suggests these interventions may even exacerbate obesity. More recent hypotheses have shifted the focus to ultimate (or adaptive) factors that view increased energy intake and accrual of body fat among individuals of lower social status as adaptive strategies to protect against potential prolonged food scarcity. The purpose of this review is integrate past research at the proximate and ultimate levels with a consideration of how social status and SES during development (in utero through adolescence) may moderate the relationships between social status, eating behavior, and obesity. Utilizing an evolutionary framework that incorporates life history theory can lead to more integrative and thorough interpretations of past research and allow researchers to better elucidate the complex set of environmental, physiological, psychological, and behavioral factors that influence obesity risk among individuals of lower social status.
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Regardless of SES, frequent consumption of fast foods (≥2 times/week) was only weakly associated with increased odds of being obese (OR=1.35, p=0.06), and the relationship between neighborhood access to fast food and its consumption was weak and only borderline-significant. Another observational study of over 8000 participants found that higher net wealth (total assets minus total debt) was associated with slightly less overall fast food consumption, but that higher income (rather than “wealth”) was associated with a greater number of fast food meals in the past 7 days (Zagorsky & Smith, 2017). However, the authors noted that the associations were weak and unlikely to have a large public health impact. As an example, a $1 million increase in net wealth was associated with consuming only 0.7 less fast food meals per week.
Conversations between co‐witnesses in the immediate aftermath of witnessed events and co‐witness retellings of witnessed events often impair both the quality and quantity of information reported subsequently
Memory at the Sharp End: The Costs of Remembering With Others in Forensic Contexts. Lorraine Hope, Fiona Gabbert. Topics in Cognitive Science, https://doi.org/10.1111/tops.12357
Abstract: In many applied contexts where accurate and reliable information informs operational decision‐making, emergency response resource allocation, efficient investigation, judicial process, and, ultimately, the delivery of justice, the costs of unfettered conversational remembering can be high. To date, research has demonstrated that conversations between co‐witnesses in the immediate aftermath of witnessed events and co‐witness retellings of witnessed events often impair both the quality and quantity of information reported subsequently. Given the largely negative impact of conversational remembering on the recall of both individual witnesses and groups of witnesses in this context, this review explores the reasons why these costs occur, the conditions under which costs are exacerbated, and how, in practical terms, the costs can be reduced in order to maximize the accuracy and completeness of witness accounts.
Abstract: In many applied contexts where accurate and reliable information informs operational decision‐making, emergency response resource allocation, efficient investigation, judicial process, and, ultimately, the delivery of justice, the costs of unfettered conversational remembering can be high. To date, research has demonstrated that conversations between co‐witnesses in the immediate aftermath of witnessed events and co‐witness retellings of witnessed events often impair both the quality and quantity of information reported subsequently. Given the largely negative impact of conversational remembering on the recall of both individual witnesses and groups of witnesses in this context, this review explores the reasons why these costs occur, the conditions under which costs are exacerbated, and how, in practical terms, the costs can be reduced in order to maximize the accuracy and completeness of witness accounts.
Thursday, August 2, 2018
From Coercion to Physical Force: Aggressive Strategies Used by Women Against Men in “Forced-to-Penetrate” Cases in the UK
From Coercion to Physical Force: Aggressive Strategies Used by Women Against Men in “Forced-to-Penetrate” Cases in the UK. Siobhan Weare. Archives of Sexual Behavior, https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10508-018-1232-5
Abstract: “Forced-to-penetrate” cases involve a man being forced-to-penetrate, with his penis and without his consent, a woman’s vagina, anus, or mouth. This article presents the first quantitative and qualitative research findings regarding such cases in the UK, exploring aggressive strategies used by women, as reported by 154 men who experienced them. The most frequently used strategies include coercion, taking advantage of men’s intoxication, and the use of force and threats of physical harm. Novel evidence is presented of women combining multiple strategies within the same incident. The article also argues that some of the strategies used by women are particularly “gendered,” with them taking advantage of their roles as women. The findings presented here raise questions for criminal justice professionals working in the area of sexual violence, as well as highlighting the need for future research.
Check also The Proportion of Sexual Offenders Who Are Female Is Higher Than Thought: A Meta-Analysis. Franca Cortoni et al. Criminal Justice and Behavior, https://www.bipartisanalliance.com/2018/06/the-proportion-of-sexual-offenders-who.html
Abstract: “Forced-to-penetrate” cases involve a man being forced-to-penetrate, with his penis and without his consent, a woman’s vagina, anus, or mouth. This article presents the first quantitative and qualitative research findings regarding such cases in the UK, exploring aggressive strategies used by women, as reported by 154 men who experienced them. The most frequently used strategies include coercion, taking advantage of men’s intoxication, and the use of force and threats of physical harm. Novel evidence is presented of women combining multiple strategies within the same incident. The article also argues that some of the strategies used by women are particularly “gendered,” with them taking advantage of their roles as women. The findings presented here raise questions for criminal justice professionals working in the area of sexual violence, as well as highlighting the need for future research.
Check also The Proportion of Sexual Offenders Who Are Female Is Higher Than Thought: A Meta-Analysis. Franca Cortoni et al. Criminal Justice and Behavior, https://www.bipartisanalliance.com/2018/06/the-proportion-of-sexual-offenders-who.html
Deception in Nature: Small dogs imitate big dogs' urine markings
Urine marking in male domestic dogs: honest or dishonest? B. McGuire et al. Journal of Zoology, https://doi.org/10.1111/jzo.12603
Abstract: Scent marking is a common mode of communication in mammals. Such marking is thought to communicate information about the signaler's size and corresponding competitive ability and accurately reflect the signaler's attributes (i.e., an honest signal). However, new data suggest that scent marking can be dishonest in certain circumstances. Via two studies, we tested the hypothesis that urine marking is a dishonest signal in adult male domestic dogs, which raise a hindlimb when marking vertical objects. In Study 1, we tested whether raised‐leg angle (i.e., during a urination, the angle between a dog's raised leg and the axis normal to the ground) is a proxy for urine mark height (n = 15 dogs) and, in Study 2, we tested whether small dogs exhibit larger raised‐leg angles than large dogs (n = 45 dogs). We videotaped urinations of adult male dogs and, afterwards, measured height of urine marks (Study 1) and degree of raised‐leg angles (Studies 1 and 2). In Study 1, we found significant positive relationships between both raised‐leg angle and height of urine mark and body size (using either body mass or height at withers) and height of urine mark; raised‐leg angle was a stronger predictor than either measure of body size. In Study 2, we found a significant negative relationship between body size (using either body mass or height at withers) and average raised‐leg angle. Our findings support raised‐leg angle as a proxy for urine mark height and provide additional evidence that scent marking can be dishonest. Assuming body size is a proxy for competitive ability, small adult male dogs may place urine marks higher, relative to their own body size, than larger adult male dogs to exaggerate their competitive ability. We did not control for over marking, which also may explain our findings.
Abstract: Scent marking is a common mode of communication in mammals. Such marking is thought to communicate information about the signaler's size and corresponding competitive ability and accurately reflect the signaler's attributes (i.e., an honest signal). However, new data suggest that scent marking can be dishonest in certain circumstances. Via two studies, we tested the hypothesis that urine marking is a dishonest signal in adult male domestic dogs, which raise a hindlimb when marking vertical objects. In Study 1, we tested whether raised‐leg angle (i.e., during a urination, the angle between a dog's raised leg and the axis normal to the ground) is a proxy for urine mark height (n = 15 dogs) and, in Study 2, we tested whether small dogs exhibit larger raised‐leg angles than large dogs (n = 45 dogs). We videotaped urinations of adult male dogs and, afterwards, measured height of urine marks (Study 1) and degree of raised‐leg angles (Studies 1 and 2). In Study 1, we found significant positive relationships between both raised‐leg angle and height of urine mark and body size (using either body mass or height at withers) and height of urine mark; raised‐leg angle was a stronger predictor than either measure of body size. In Study 2, we found a significant negative relationship between body size (using either body mass or height at withers) and average raised‐leg angle. Our findings support raised‐leg angle as a proxy for urine mark height and provide additional evidence that scent marking can be dishonest. Assuming body size is a proxy for competitive ability, small adult male dogs may place urine marks higher, relative to their own body size, than larger adult male dogs to exaggerate their competitive ability. We did not control for over marking, which also may explain our findings.
Hitler’s speeches, while rationally targeted, had a negligible impact on the Nazis’ electoral fortunes; only the 1932 presidential runoff, an election preceded by an extraordinarily short, intense and one-sided campaign, yielded positive effects
Munzert, Simon. 2018. “Examining a Most Likely Case for Strong Campaign Effects: Hitler’s Speeches and the Rise of the Nazi Party, 1927–1933.” SocArXiv. August 1. doi:10.31235/osf.io/t75p3
Abstract: Hitler’s rise to power amidst an unprecedented propaganda campaign initiated scholarly interest in campaign effects. To the surprise of many, empirical studies often found minimal effects. The predominant focus of early work was on U.S. elections, though. Nazi propaganda as the archetypal and, in many ways, most likely case for strong effects has rarely been studied. We collect extensive data about Hitler’s speeches and gauge their impact on voter support at five national elections preceding the dictatorship. We use a semi-parametric difference-in-differences approach to estimate effects in the face of potential confounding due to the deliberate scheduling of events. Our findings suggest that Hitler’s speeches, while rationally targeted, had a negligible impact on the Nazis’ electoral fortunes. Only the 1932 presidential runoff, an election preceded by an extraordinarily short, intense and one-sided campaign, yielded positive effects. This study questions the importance of charismatic leaders for the success of populist movements.
Check also Kalla, Joshua and Broockman, David E., The Minimal Persuasive Effects of Campaign Contact in General Elections: Evidence from 49 Field Experiments (September 25, 2017). Forthcoming, American Political Science Review; Stanford University Graduate School of Business Research Paper No. 17-65. American Political Science Review. https://www.bipartisanalliance.com/2017/11/the-best-estimate-of-effects-of.html
Abstract: Hitler’s rise to power amidst an unprecedented propaganda campaign initiated scholarly interest in campaign effects. To the surprise of many, empirical studies often found minimal effects. The predominant focus of early work was on U.S. elections, though. Nazi propaganda as the archetypal and, in many ways, most likely case for strong effects has rarely been studied. We collect extensive data about Hitler’s speeches and gauge their impact on voter support at five national elections preceding the dictatorship. We use a semi-parametric difference-in-differences approach to estimate effects in the face of potential confounding due to the deliberate scheduling of events. Our findings suggest that Hitler’s speeches, while rationally targeted, had a negligible impact on the Nazis’ electoral fortunes. Only the 1932 presidential runoff, an election preceded by an extraordinarily short, intense and one-sided campaign, yielded positive effects. This study questions the importance of charismatic leaders for the success of populist movements.
Check also Kalla, Joshua and Broockman, David E., The Minimal Persuasive Effects of Campaign Contact in General Elections: Evidence from 49 Field Experiments (September 25, 2017). Forthcoming, American Political Science Review; Stanford University Graduate School of Business Research Paper No. 17-65. American Political Science Review. https://www.bipartisanalliance.com/2017/11/the-best-estimate-of-effects-of.html
Building on the notion that people respond to media as if they were real, they study switching off a robot which exhibits lifelike behavior; participants have problems to execute the task when the robot asks them not to be switched off
Do a robot’s social skills and its objection discourage interactants from switching the robot off? Aike C. Horstmann et al. PLOS One, July 31 2018, https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0201581
Abstract: Building on the notion that people respond to media as if they were real, switching off a robot which exhibits lifelike behavior implies an interesting situation. In an experimental lab study with a 2x2 between-subjects-design (N = 85), people were given the choice to switch off a robot with which they had just interacted. The style of the interaction was either social (mimicking human behavior) or functional (displaying machinelike behavior). Additionally, the robot either voiced an objection against being switched off or it remained silent. Results show that participants rather let the robot stay switched on when the robot objected. After the functional interaction, people evaluated the robot as less likeable, which in turn led to a reduced stress experience after the switching off situation. Furthermore, individuals hesitated longest when they had experienced a functional interaction in combination with an objecting robot. This unexpected result might be due to the fact that the impression people had formed based on the task-focused behavior of the robot conflicted with the emotional nature of the objection.
Abstract: Building on the notion that people respond to media as if they were real, switching off a robot which exhibits lifelike behavior implies an interesting situation. In an experimental lab study with a 2x2 between-subjects-design (N = 85), people were given the choice to switch off a robot with which they had just interacted. The style of the interaction was either social (mimicking human behavior) or functional (displaying machinelike behavior). Additionally, the robot either voiced an objection against being switched off or it remained silent. Results show that participants rather let the robot stay switched on when the robot objected. After the functional interaction, people evaluated the robot as less likeable, which in turn led to a reduced stress experience after the switching off situation. Furthermore, individuals hesitated longest when they had experienced a functional interaction in combination with an objecting robot. This unexpected result might be due to the fact that the impression people had formed based on the task-focused behavior of the robot conflicted with the emotional nature of the objection.
The bystander effect, the reduction in helping behavior in the presence of other people, has been explained predominantly by situational influences on decision making; we highlight recent evidence on the neural mechanisms and dispositional factors that determine apathy in bystanders
From Empathy to Apathy: The Bystander Effect Revisited. Ruud Hortensius, Beatrice de Gelder. Current Directions in Psychological Science, https://doi.org/10.1177/0963721417749653
Abstract: The bystander effect, the reduction in helping behavior in the presence of other people, has been explained predominantly by situational influences on decision making. Diverging from this view, we highlight recent evidence on the neural mechanisms and dispositional factors that determine apathy in bystanders. We put forward a new theoretical perspective that integrates emotional, motivational, and dispositional aspects. In the presence of other bystanders, personal distress is enhanced, and fixed action patterns of avoidance and freezing dominate. This new perspective suggests that bystander apathy results from a reflexive emotional reaction dependent on the personality of the bystander.
Keywords: bystander effect, helping behavior, empathy, sympathy, personal distress
Abstract: The bystander effect, the reduction in helping behavior in the presence of other people, has been explained predominantly by situational influences on decision making. Diverging from this view, we highlight recent evidence on the neural mechanisms and dispositional factors that determine apathy in bystanders. We put forward a new theoretical perspective that integrates emotional, motivational, and dispositional aspects. In the presence of other bystanders, personal distress is enhanced, and fixed action patterns of avoidance and freezing dominate. This new perspective suggests that bystander apathy results from a reflexive emotional reaction dependent on the personality of the bystander.
Keywords: bystander effect, helping behavior, empathy, sympathy, personal distress
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